Eurocup 2012-13, Group D analysis and quotes

Valencia BasketTwo-time Eurocup champion Valencia Basket reached the title game last season and wants to do better this time around. Valencia brought back Rafa Martinez, Florent Pietrus, Stefan Markovic, Serhiy Lishchuk and a much-improved Vitor Faverani as its core players. It brought back Thomas Kelati and inked reliable players like Justin Doellman, Marko Keselj, Bojan Dubljevic and Mindaugas Lukauskis. Experienced and ready, Valencia wants nothing but a third Eurocup trophy.

Banvit BK BandirmaAn experienced team backed by great fans, Banvit BK Bandirma now has all it takes to fight for bigger goals. Banvit landed scoring machine Sammy Mejia to lead a backcourt that also includes playmaker Kalin Lucas, swingman Keith Simmons and three-point threat Serkan Erdogan. Banvit is balanced by a strong, talented frontcourt that includes Chuck Davis, Kenan Bajramovic and center Vladimir Stimac. If it stays rock-solid a home, Banvit can be facing a historical Eurocup season.

BC Azovmash Mariupol A Eurocup veteran that knows the competition like few others, BC Azovmash Mariupol has put together a nice combination of young talent and experience. Lynn Greer and Manny Harris will see most playing time at both guards, Miroslav Raduljica is its new reference under the boards along with Oleksiy Pecherov and veterans like Dmytro Zabirchenko and Simonas Serapinas will provide the fireworks from downtown. Always ready and ambitious, Azovmash will be a tough opponent anytime, anywhere.

s.Oliver Baskets WurzburgStrong and ready, s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg faces its Eurocup debut season with great hope and ambition. Former All-Eurocup forward Dwayne Anderson, center Chris McNaughton, guard Lamont McIntosh and sharp shooter Jimmy McKinney are its main newcomers. Playmaker John Little, guard Ben Jacobson and glue guy Jason Boone are back in its lineup, as well as head coach Marcel Schroeder. Wurzburg wants to keep rewriting its own basketball history in the 2012-13 Eurocup.

QUOTES

Valencia Basket general manager Francisco Martinez:
"It's enough that you don't want a certain team because of the difficulty of the trip in order for it to fall into your group. That's what happened to us with BK Banvit. It's a tough trip against a difficult team. We also have a long trip to the Ukraine against Azovmash. I think we fell into one of the toughest groups of the draw and the problem of the trips will mahe it even tougher."